Method and apparatus for planning the movement of trains using dynamic analysis

Abstract

A method of planning the movement of plural trains through a rail network using a database of dynamic planning attributes reflecting the current conditions of the train and rail network.

1. A method of planning the movement of trains over a rail network, comprising:
 (a) receiving a schedule for the planned movement of a train along a route; 
 (b) monitoring and accessing a database including current train characteristics selected from the group of train length, hazmat content, high/wide restrictions, horsepower, speed, stopping distance, acceleration, and combinations thereof; 
 (c) detecting a change to any train characteristic in the database; 
 (d) predicting a train characteristic of the train at plural locations along the route as a function of the detection of the change; and 
 (e) planning the movement of the train as a function of the predicted train characteristic at ones of the plural locations along the route. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the information contained in the database is derived from historical performance. 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 (f) disabling autorouting of the train as a function of the detection of a change to a planning attribute. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 1  further including the step of updating the database with information received from a field sensor. 
   
   
     5. A method of planning the movement of trains over a rail network, comprising:
 (a) receiving a schedule for the planned movement of a train along a route; 
 (b) maintaining a database of train characteristics; 
 (c) planning the movement of the train as a function of the train characteristics; 
 (d) updating the database with information received from a railroad management information system; 
 (e) monitoring the database to detect a change to any train characteristic; 
 (f) predicting a train characteristic of the train at plural locations along the route as a function of the detected change; and 
 (g) planning the movement of the train as a function of the predicted train characteristic at ones of the plural locations along the route. 
 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 5  wherein the train characteristics are selected from the group of train length, hazmat content, high/wide restrictions, horsepower, speed, stopping distance, acceleration, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 5  wherein information received from a railroad's management information system includes information received from a field sensor. 
   
   
     8. A computer readable storage medium storing a program for controlling the movement of plural trains over a rail network, the computer program comprising:
 a computer usable medium having computer readable program code modules embodied in said medium for planning the movement of trains; 
 a computer readable first program code module for receiving a schedule for the planned movement of a train along a route; 
 a computer readable second program code module for monitoring and accessing a database including current train characteristics selected from the group of train length, hazmat content, high/wide restrictions, horsepower, speed, stopping distance, acceleration, and combinations thereof; 
 a computer readable third program code module for detecting a change to any train characteristic in the database; 
 a computer readable fourth program code module for predicting a train characteristic of the train at plural locations along the route as a function of the detection of the change; and 
 a computer readable fifth program code module for planning the movement of the train as a function of the predicted train characteristic at ones of the plural locations along the route. 
 
   
   
     9. The computer program of  claim 8  further comprising a computer readable sixth program code module for updating the database with information received from a railroad management information system.